May 1, 2018
As a visitor to this year’s Hidden Door festival there are physical doors to be opened that reveal artistic endeavours; endeavours that followed passages these artists explored that were, until this year, less trodden.
The landscape and physical geography not only of Scotland, and its surrounding islands, but toward foreign fields has proved to be rich in source material for several of this year’s visual artists including Robyn Braham, Tyler and Mara Marxt Lewis and Josie Turnbull.
Robyn Braham’s work begins in Aberdeenshire and concludes at the Isle of Canna. ‘Portraits’, taking the form of audio and visual recordings, recall the tradition and people who have resided in rural areas through generation to generation. Much like the history of people that have travelled through and occupied both the Leith Theatre and State Cinema, visitors are invited to embark on Robyn’s journey through her documentation, moving through and pausing for thought over progressions in tradition, culture, and community.
Themes of transience and the documentation of environments feel particularly pertinent to Hidden Door 2018 as the festival is set to take on another venue. This year, another derelict building, the State Cinema is quietly awaiting the vim and vigour of creative energy that is set to liberate the cinema for the duration of the festival.
Be sure to keep an eye out for Robyn’s work in the Leith Theatre, Mara and Tyler’s installation also in the Leith Theatre, and Josie’s photography in the State Cinema.